Pelargonium plant named ‘Duesadared’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duesadared’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; semi-double dark red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duesadared’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duesadared’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Zonal Geranium plants withdark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in August, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-0058-5,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-02-01, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since May, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this newZonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duesadared’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duesadared’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Freely basal branching habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Semi-double dark red-colored flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in leaf color as plants of the new ZonalGeranium have darker green-colored leaves than plants of the femaleparent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in flower color.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium zonale ‘HWD Fuega’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,731.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants ofthe new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘HWD Fuega’ ingrowth habit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more vigorous thanplants of ‘HWD Fuega’. In addition, flowers of plants of the new ZonalGeranium were darker red in color than flowers of plants of ‘HWD Fuega’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duesadared’ grown in a10.5-cm container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in Rheinberg, Germany in aglass-covered greenhouse during the summer and under conditions whichclosely approximate commercial production. During the production of theplants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levelsaveraged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time three weeks afterplanting. Plants had been growing for two months when the photograph andthe description were taken. In the detailed description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duesadared’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-0058-5, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale identified as code number F-02-01, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth            habit; freely basal branching habit with about three basal            branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Texture: Slightly pubescent.            Strength: Strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 8.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 147A; venation, close to 144A. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C;            venation, close to 144A. Zonation pattern: Not observed.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.9 cm. Diameter: About 3.4 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils.            Umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong            peduncles. Flowers face upright to outward.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 20            flowers per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 6 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 11 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 1.7 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 44A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five or six. Length:            About 2.8 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: Mostly            flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 45A to 45B.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 45C. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 53A to 53B; venation, close to 53A            to 53B; color becoming close to 53B with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 53C.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About five. Length: About            2.7 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 45A to 45B. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 45C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 53A to            53B; venation, close to 53A to 53B; color becoming close to            53B with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to            53C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 3.6 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 18 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 3 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 59B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About ten. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.            Anther color: Close to 35A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma            color: Close to 53A to 53B. Style length: About 2 mm. Style            color: Close to 53A to 53B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duesadared’ asillustrated and described.